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Asbestos insulation material – maritime

Description

The use of asbestos on maritime vessels has a long history. Confined spaces with fixed plant and heat generating machinery require substantial insulation materials. 

Exhaust and pressure piping were often wrapped or lagged with ACM for insulation, fire prevention and crew protection from heated surfaces.

Pressure piping insulation may be covered with nylon or non-asbestos textile materials. Damaged or poorly maintained covers can expose ACM.   

See also: Woven asbestos textile for insulation and other ACM for piping in Insulation. 

Ships built after 1 July 2002 are not permitted to contain asbestos in line with IMO SOLAS regulations.

 

 

Brands/products

no list

Years of production/use
  • Prior to 2002.
  • Still used in certain countries and represents risk to after-market parts supply.
Residential uses

  • Older house boats or cabin cruisers

Industrial uses

  • Older Australian vessels.

  • Older vessels sourced from outside Australia.  

Be aware

ACM may be encapsulated, or may encapsulate non-asbestos insulating material such as mineral wool.

Damaged ACM in a confined space, such as a pipe tunnel, engine room or engine bay, may allow for settled asbestos dust on surfaces.

Insulation materials for lift motor cabling

Description

High voltage cabling represents a risk in any environment. Woven asbestos wraps and lagging was often used to insulate against external temperature forces but also to reduce short circuit hazards and risk of fire.

Lift motor cabling within riser spacing can be subject to settled dust/debris which would increase risk of fire in event of short circuit.  

ACM materials may have been added as part of after-market maintenance rather than in original installation.

See also: Woven asbestos textile for insulation.

Brands/products
    • William Chalmers and Son
    • Super Insulation Products
    • Hill Bros
    • Australian Asbestos
    • Bell’s Asbestos and Engineering
    • Bradford Insulation Industries
Years of production/use

Prior to 2003

Residential uses

  • N/a

Industrial uses

  • Cabling on passenger and goods lifts/elevators

Be aware

Vermin and physical interference where moving parts exist can damage textile insulation materials.

ACM insulation and tape may not be immediately visible in control panel structural areas.

Industrial oil separators

Description

Oil separators (or oil skimmers) are used in plant to take the discharge gas from the compressor and separate the oil from water, wastewater, or within commercial cooling or refrigeration systems, separate the oil from the refrigerant. This prevents the compressor oil from being carried over to other components in the system.

The separator displayed, manufactured in Australia in around the 1950-60s, has an asbestos coating finish. This indicates it was likely used on plant with high operating temperatures.

Brands/products

  • Hudson

  • Others yet to be identified

Years of production/use

Prior to late 1970s

Residential uses

  • n/a

Industrial uses
  • Transformers, cooling functions for large plant, commercial refrigeration or air conditioning.
Be aware

Aged and damaged coatings may be friable, particularly if having been exposed to repeated temperature variations or knocks over a long service life.

Industrial shaft bearings

Description

Manufactured from chrysotile asbestos.

Depicted example was removed from a cooling system butterfly valve within an Australian power station.

Years of production/use

Prior to 2004

Brands/products

Not identified

Residential uses

–

Industrial uses

·       As described

Be aware

Asbestos dust and debris in immediate vicinity and damage to components during maintenance or replacement.

Ducts with woven asbestos connectors

Description

Machinery and plant with duct connectors of woven asbestos cloth. Asbestos cloth was a sound structural material ideal for hot air flows connecting to plant such as vibration isolators.

Aside from OEM components in supplied plant, use was subject to preferences of maintenance personnel.

Brands/products

Not identified with respect to large plant. There were asbestos cloth manufacturers in Australia – refer to Woven asbestos textile for insulation information page.

Years of production/use

Prior to 2003

Residential uses

Aircon plant in multi-storey residential complexes

Industrial uses

HVAC plant or other industrial ducting where flexible connectors are a component

Be aware

Noting the condition of any woven fabric identified with asbestos – dust within ducting and in immediate location may contain asbestos.

Friction materials

Description

Friction materials designed to withstand constant heat and maintain structural integrity.

Friction materials are a risk for losing fibres due to the constant contact with a moving (rubbing) secondary surface.   

See also: Brake pads in transformer tap changer motor units

Brands/products

Not identified

Years of production/use

Prior to 2003 and some imported product

Residential uses
  • Multi storey apartments with lifts
Industrial uses
  • Industrial lifts, industrial plant with drive wheels requiring brake material components
  • High speed centrifugals, cranes, friction hoists, winding machines

 

Be aware

Asbestos containing dust/debris in immediate vicinity.

Overseas original equipment manufacturers may have supplied components with ACM prior to Australian ban.

After-market parts from certain countries may still be a risk.

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Email: enquiries@asbestossafety.gov.au

Phone: 1300 326 148

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The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

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